WAUSAU – A downtown food cart business is making itself permanent as a part of the city's dining scene.

Brooklyn Taste opened a sit-down restaurant Dec. 18 in a storefront at 328 Washington St., just outside the Wausau Center mall.

The business started this spring as a food cart owned and operated by New York native Joanne Gallo, who mostly served the downtown Wausau late-night crowd.

At the request of customers, Gallo has opened a permanent version of the business, which will continue to be a mash-up of New York City and Wisconsin staples.

"I'm Italian, so I take my meatballs very seriously," said Gallo, who was born and raised in Brooklyn. "Our one-dollar hot dogs are an ode to Gray's Papaya, a restaurant I always went to in New York. A lot of what we serve relates back to the city."

The Brooklyn Taste food cart is known primarily for its meatballs parmesan, grilled beer brats, chili dogs and vegan chili served over corn tortillas, which is also a gluten-free option, Gallo said.

With the new storefront, the menu will expand to include soups, salads, homemade garlic bread and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches.

Gallo said the restaurant has an eclectic feel, with different couches, tables and chairs making up the customer seating.

A large flat-screen TV and a variety of local artwork also adorn the walls, with Gallo planning to hang new art every couple of weeks.

"I love the artistry of this community. It reminds me a little bit of SoHo, which is one thing I'm going to try to bring with this place. I'm giving it a very beatnik vibe with a mixture of home away from home," Gallo said.

Along with food, Gallo also hopes to bring a little fun, with game nights, open mic nights, musical comedy and ethnic-themed food days just some of the ideas she's tossing around for future events.

"I want this place to always be fresh and always new," Gallo said. "It's going to be all about the food and hanging out with your friends. If you want to take out your guitar and start playing, go ahead and do it. That's the kind of atmosphere we're going for."

Brooklyn Taste's food cart is in storage for the winter but will be back on the streets come spring, Gallo said.

And while the restaurant's hours are still being sorted out, Gallo said she plans on the eatery being open for lunch, dinner and late at night. Exact hours will be posted soon on the business' Facebook page, listed under Brooklyn Taste LLC.

For more information, call 715-679-0645.

What's up with Kitchen Collection?

One of the Cedar Creek Mall's original tenants will be vacating the shopping center in the new year.

Kitchen Collection is set to close its doors in January, according to signs posted inside the mall and the store, located at 10101 Market St., Rothschild.

The outlet store, which sells gadgets, small appliances and other tools for cooking, baking and grilling, was one of the mall's original tenants when it opened in 1993.

The Rothschild location will to stay open and clear inventory through Christmas before closing for good in early January.

Kitchen Collection has more than 250 locations nationwide, with Oshkosh, Eau Claire and Baraboo now being the closest locations to central Wisconsin.

Calls placed to the company's corporate headquarters were not returned.